FAQ

What is a Flow Trail?   It is a single-track bike-only, one-way downhill trail with banked turns and berms that zig-zags down the hill. This video shows several riders descending the Endor flow trail in Fairfax which would have similar slopes to the Wildcat Flow Trail.  The goal of a flow trail is not to attain high speed but to develop a rhythm and flow much like that felt by by a downhill skier.  Descending a well designed flow trail requires little to  no pedaling or braking. The modest downhill slope (5-7 degrees) combined with the frequent curves and berms restrain a bike to far slower speeds than would be attained on a trail that went straight down the same hill.  Bike speed will vary depending on the design of the flow trail and the skill of the rider but most riders would not exceed 15 mph on the Wildcat Flow Trail.    The basis for this statement is documented in the section of this website entitled "Response to Critics".  

Why do bikers want more trails?  Of the 41 miles of system trail in Tilden and and Wildcat Canyon Parks, bikes are legal on about 28 miles, almost all of it the less desirable fire roads.  The situation worsens during most rainy seasons when only about 8 miles remain open because of mud.  An intermediate rider can cover that distance in about 1 hr. Imagine how many hikers and runners would feel if they only had 1 hour of trail time available to them in all of Wildcat and Tilden!

Who is behind this effort?  The trail is the brainchild of a head coach of a local school mountain biking team that is a member of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Advocacy efforts are being lead by a leadership team consisting of several other local mountain bike enthusiasts who have worked on improving trail access in the Bay Area for years.   

What is the history of this project?  

A detailed timeline is shown here and includes extensive references documenting each point.  A quick look at the timeline shows it's extensive- a fact that documents  that EBRPD has taken a prudent and methodical approach looking for show stoppers.  Once EBRPD had convinced themselves in late 2022 that there were no obvious show stoppers, they started the California Environmental  Quality Act (CEQA) process which involves a much more detailed look for show stoppers and provides exhaustive opportunities for public review and input.  For those who don't want to take the time to look at the details, here is the year-by-year summary.

• In late 2020, we (NICA coaches and BTCEB)  proposed the WFT idea to EBRPD.  
• In 2021, staff investigated the environmental and logistical aspects of the WFT.   They moved the originally proposed location  about 1/2 mile further north to avoid an environmentally sensitive area. In December, we described WFT in public comments at a Board meeting and promised to provide construction funding and volunteer time for maintenance.  
• In 2022, EBRPD hired Nomad Ecology to do a more detailed environmental survey of the site. They found no show stoppers.   Staff also began floating the idea to key stakeholders such as the Board and the Park Advisory Committee. The Board agreed to let staff move to the  first phase of CEQA.
• In 2023 EBRPD contracted Point Strategies to do a preliminary design of the trail. In April EBRPD held the first meeting to gather public input about the WFT.
• In 2024 EBRD examined several alternative locations proposed by WFT opponents and found they had critical flaws.  Also, the preliminary trail design was completed.  EBRPD hired Nomad Ecology to complete the first phase of CEQA. 
• In 2025 Nomad finished the CEQA Phase 1 effort  which recommended Phase 2 CEQA include a detailed Environmental Impact Report (EIR).  Board approved the effort.  
• In early 2026 EBRPD held public meetings to gather input on the EIR scope. Completion is expected in late 2026.  

EBRPD maintains a web site about the project here. 

Would the flow trail adversely impact the local environment including tarplants and whip snakes?  It is important to note that the flow trail would run adjacent to the Mezue trail, a ranch road which has been in existence for decades.  According to the Nomad Ecology report (here),  the area is characterized by grassland that has been heavily grazed for decades and is composed largely of non-native grasses. While the area is the potential home for several special status species such as the whipsnake and tarplant none of these species have been observed near the proposed site.  Furthermore the trail is surrounded by thousands of acres of similar habitat so clearly the population of these special species is not being constrained by limitations on available habitat.  

Who would build and maintain the flow trail?  Because the proposed trail would be on EBRPD land, construction and maintenance would be controlled by the EBRPD. We hope that EBRPD would allow the public to help build and maintain the trail under EBRPD oversight much as is done with the trails at Crockett Hills Regional Park.

How can I support this effort?  Sign the petition here and get your friends to sign it!  The broader the support we can show for the trail the better the chances the EBRPD will approve it. Also, write an email to the EBRPD Board.  Directions can be found here.  Finally, EBRPD will host a number of public meetings over the next 6 months as part of the CEQA process.  Please try to attend those to show your support.  We'll post the dates of these meetings on our home page when they are announced.  Once EBRPD is proceeding towards construction we will mount a fund-raising campaign to supplement funding we have obtained from an anonymous private donor.